Vietnamese coffee has become a beloved staple in Australia’s coffee culture, offering a unique and robust flavour that distinguishes it from other styles. As we delve into the nuances of various brands, it’s important to consider both their strengths and areas where they may fall short. Here, we examine Saigon Brew, VietCaPhe, WhatDaPhin, Oui Vina, and Phin Coffee, highlighting their distinctive features and acknowledging their limitations.
The Brands
The Ready-to-Drink Pioneer Saigon Brew has made a name for itself with its convenient, ready-to-drink Vietnamese iced coffee, providing a quick and easy coffee fix. However, this convenience comes at a cost, both financially and in terms of authenticity. Their products are pricier compared to other ready-to-drink options and include artificial flavours like "Coffee Flavour" and added ingredients like vegetable gums, and sugars. Hence, their products provide a more artificial Vietnamese coffee experience compared to other brands. While they excel in celebrating Vietnamese culture through their social media and branding, they lack clear information on the actual coffee they use. It seems like they are more of an energy drink company than a coffee company, as their focus is on Vietnamese Iced Coffee "ca phe sua da", not coffee.
The Robusta Advocate VietCaPhe has earned respect for its exceptionally high-quality, authentic Robusta coffee and its dedication to educating consumers about this robust coffee variety. They believe that high quality Vietnamese Robusta beans reveal the authentic flavours that Vietnamese coffee is well known for, providing a coffee experience like no other. Everyone is able to try their coffee, as they offer steeped coffee bags for on-the-go coffee, as well as ground and whole bean coffee. VietCaPhe is championing the lesser-known Robusta, aiming to cultivate a wider appreciation for it and establish its presence in Australia as prominently as the ubiquitous Arabica. This mission is integral to their brand ethos. Nevertheless, their product range is limited, focusing solely on 100% Vietnamese Robusta coffee. This singular focus allows them to provide excellent coffee and an easy way to try them, but it may leave customers looking for more variety. Their social media presence is commendable, helping to bridge the gap between product and consumer.
The Quality Connoisseur WhatDaPhin prides itself on offering high-quality Vietnamese coffee, with a mission to bridge cultures through their beans. They offer Vietnamese Arabica and Robusta blends as well as pure Arabica or pure Robusta. They source their coffee in microlots, ensuring a premium product, but this also means a higher price point and limited supply compared to VietCaPhe. A notable drawback is the lack of educational content about Vietnamese Arabica or Robusta, which could help consumers understand the quality of their beans, as well as what separates Vietnamese coffee from other coffee. They feel more like a specialty coffee company that sources from Vietnam rather than a Vietnamese Coffee company. Additionally, their social media presence is not as robust as it could be, and they lack convenient on-the-go options that don’t require equipment.
The Sustainability Champion Oui Vina stands out for their commitment to sustainable product development in their Vietnamese Coffee products, including their ground or whole bean coffee and their single-serve drip bags for an on-the-move coffee drinker. However, they could improve by providing more detailed product information and emphasising what makes their coffee distinctively Vietnamese. The cultural aspect of their brand is not as pronounced as it could be, and like WhatDaPhin, they have room to grow in terms of social media engagement.
The Authentic Experience Purveyor Phin Coffee offers an authentic Vietnamese coffee experience, complete with traditional brewing equipment. While their commitment to authenticity and high quality coffee is clear, their equipment is notably expensive and similar unbranded options are available elsewhere. Currently, their product range is limited, and they could benefit from more educational content that explains the virtues of Vietnamese coffee. Their social media presence is another area where there is potential for growth.
Conclusion
In crafting the narrative of Vietnamese coffee in Australia, these brands each contribute a unique chapter. Their offerings span from Saigon Brew's convenience to VietCaPhe's high-quality flavours and Phin Coffee's traditional methods. As they continue to evolve, addressing their respective challenges will be key to their success and to the enrichment of Australia’s coffee culture. Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or a casual drinker, there’s a Vietnamese coffee brand that will meet your needs, provided you know where to look and what to expect.